Center Parcs Whinfell Forest Trip Report > Fraser's Birding Website


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Whinfell Forest Center Parcs Cumbria
8-12 Nov 2021
Observers: F. Simpson, L. Simpson, J. Simpson

Introduction

This was a family break, postponed from January, for our six-year-old's birthday to Center Parcs Whinfell Forest in Cumbria. The focus was on relaxation, fresh air and some (very) early Christmas activities. We packed some bird seed, peanuts and the i-Spy books, and set up a feeding station at our lodge in the Beechwood zone. Point-blank views of various woodland birds were a continuous feature with numerous Coal Tits, but the presence of Red Squirrels on the lodge patio and throughout the site was the highlight. The site is composed mainly of mature, managed Scots Pine woodland (and a small area of mature Beech) with a rich understorey of heather, birch, oak, bracken, holly, blaeberry, bramble, rowan and dog rose with a few lime, sycamore, raspberry, foxglove and larch. The lake area is much less productive than the lakes at Elveden Forest though. It could attract the odd diving duck/sawbill but on our visit powered boats were active.

Stills from remote mobile phone video of a Red Squirrel (Sciurus vulgaris) on our lodge balcony, Center Parcs Whinfell Forest, Cumbria

Center Parcs, Whinfell Forest, Cumbria © Fraser Simpson Cycling, Center Parcs Whinfell Forest, Cumbria

Center Parcs, Whinfell Forest, Cumbria © Fraser Simpson Wildlife Observation Hide, Center Parcs Whinfell Forest, Cumbria

Early Christmas tree in our lodge, Center Parcs Whinfell Forest, Cumbria

Species List

Train journey Essex to Cumbria (and taxi Penrith-Center Parcs) 8-Nov

Pied Wagtail, Robin, Magpie, Wren, Carrion Crow, Herring Gull, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Coot, Mallard, Cattle Egret, Canada Goose, Shoveler, Teal, Feral Pigeon, Ring-necked Parakeet, Black-headed Gull, Common Gull, Jackdaw, Cormorant, Red Kite, Fieldfare, Wood Pigeon, Rook, Collared Dove, Moorhen, Grey Heron, Stock Dove, Pheasant, Mute Swan, Little Egret, Greylag Goose, Kestrel, Buzzard, Little Grebe, Meadow Pipit, Redwing, Goosander, Great Egret, Lapwing, Pink-footed Goose, Goldcrest, Wren.

Mallard Anas platyrhynchos

Peak count of 23, The Lake, Whinfell Forest, 9-Nov.

Pheasant Phasianus colchicus

Males heard daily, Whinfell Forest, 8-12-Nov.

2 mm, Bird Hide, Whinfell Forest, 11 Nov.

Sparrowhawk Accipiter nisus

M, on 60 min walk around south-east corner, Whinfell Forest, 11-Nov.

Buzzard Buteo buteo

4, soaring together on the south-east side of Whinfell Forest, 11-Nov.

Moorhen Gallinula chloropus

Ad + 1st-w, The Lake, Whinfell Forest, 9-12 Nov.

Black-headed Gull Larus ridibundus

36, The Lake, Whinfell Forest, 9-Nov.

Common Gull Larus canus

4, The Lake, Whinfell Forest, 9-Nov.

Herring Gull Larus argentatus

2, high over The Lake, Whinfell Forest, 12-Nov.

Wood Pigeon Columba palumbus

First species to appear, 30 mins after seed put out, Beechwood, Whinfell Forest, 9-Nov.

8 (peak count), Beechwood, Whinfell Forest, 10-Nov.

7, on 60 min walk around south-east corner, Whinfell Forest, 11-Nov.

Singing, Bird Hide, Whinfell Forest, 11 Nov.

Tawny Owl Strix aluco

1, mobbed by Blackbirds at dusk, Bilberry Wood, 9-Nov.

1 m, calling near entrance at dusk, 11-Nov.

Great Spotted Woodpecker Dendrocopus major

1-2, calling daily, Beechwood, Whinfell Forest, 9-Nov.

Heard, Bird Hide, 9-Nov.

2, on 60 min walk around south-east corner, Whinfell Forest, 11-Nov.

Heard, Bird Hide, Whinfell Forest, 11 Nov.

Grey Wagtail Motacilla cinerea

1, flew south on 60 min walk around south-east corner, Whinfell Forest, 11-Nov.

Pied Wagtail Motacilla alba

2-3, daily on roof of village centre/swimming pool, 9-12 Nov.

3, car park, Whinfell Forest, 12-Nov.

Wren Troglodytes troglodytes

Heard regulary throughout Whinfell Forest, 8-12 Nov.

Singing around the lodge daily, Beechwood, Whinfell Forest, 8-12 Nov.

First song heard at 07:13, 9-Nov.

2, on 60 min walk around south-east corner, Whinfell Forest, 11-Nov.

Robin Erithacus rubecula

Heard regulary throughout Whinfell Forest, 8-12 Nov.

Singing around the lodge daily, Beechwood, Whinfell Forest, 8-12 Nov.

Taking sunflower hearts from lodge balcony daily, 9-12 Nov.

1, on 60 min walk around south-east corner, Whinfell Forest, 11-Nov.

Blackbird Turdus merula

Several alarm calling at dusk, Bilberry Wood, 9-Nov.

1-2, around lodge daily, Beechwood, Whinfell Forest, 9-12 Nov.

1, on 60 min walk around south-east corner, Whinfell Forest, 11-Nov.

Fieldfare Turdus pilaris

12, flew south, on 60 min walk around south-east corner, Whinfell Forest, 11-Nov.

Song Thrush Turdus philomelus

Heard, Bird Hide, Whinfell Forest, 9-Nov.

Redwing Turdus iliacus

2, flew over calling, Beechwood, Whinfell Forest, 9-Nov.

3, flew south, on 60 min walk around south-east corner, Whinfell Forest, 11-Nov.

Mistle Thrush Turdus viscivorus

1, alarm calling, Beechwood, Whinfell Forest, 9-Nov.

2, on 60 min walk around south-east corner, Whinfell Forest, 11-Nov.

Goldcrest Regulus regulus

Heard regulary throughout Whinfell Forest, 8-12 Nov.

3, calling, Beechwood, Whinfell Forest, 9-Nov.

2, Bird Hide feeding station, Whinfell Forest, 11 Nov.

Long-tailed Tit Aegithalos caudatus

8, on 60 min walk around south-east corner, Whinfell Forest, 11-Nov.

Blue Tit Cyanistes caeruleus

2 (peak count), taking sunflower hearts and peanuts from lodge balcony daily, Beechwood, Whinfell Forest, 9-12 Nov.

2, on 60 min walk around south-east corner, Whinfell Forest, 11-Nov.

Great Tit Parus major

2 (peak count), taking sunflower hearts and peanuts from lodge balcony daily, Beechwood, Whinfell Forest, 9-12 Nov.

Coal Tit Periparus ater

Heard regulary throughout Whinfell Forest, 8-12 Nov.

10-12+ taking sunflower hearts (and peanuts to cache) from lodge balcony daily, 9-12 Nov.

14 (peak count), Beechwood, Whinfell Forest, 10-Nov.

3, on 60 min walk around south-east corner, Whinfell Forest, 11-Nov.

1, Bird Hide feeding station, Whinfell Forest, 11 Nov.

Nuthatch Sitta europaea

2, calling around Beechwood, Whinfell Forest, 9-Nov.

1, calling around Beechwood, Whinfell Forest, 11-Nov.

1, on 60 min walk around south-east corner, Whinfell Forest, 11-Nov.

Treecreeper Certhia familiaris

1, calling, Beechwood, Whinfell Forest, 9-Nov.

2, on 60 min walk around south-east corner, Whinfell Forest, 11-Nov.

1, Bird Hide feeding station, Whinfell Forest, 11 Nov.

1, on edge of car park, Whinfell Forest, 12-Nov.

Jay Garrulus glandarius

1, heard, Beechwood, Whinfell Forest, 10-Nov.

Jackdaw Corvus monedula

2, flew over calling, Beechwood, Whinfell Forest, 9-Nov.

Carrion Crow Corvus corone

3, on 60 min walk around south-east corner, Whinfell Forest, 11-Nov.

Heard, Bird Hide, Whinfell Forest, 11 Nov.

Raven Corvus corax

2, heard on 60 min walk around south-east corner, Whinfell Forest, 11-Nov.

2, over car park, Whinfell Forest, 12-Nov.

Chaffinch Fringilla coelebs

3, (peak count), taking sunflower hearts and peanuts from lodge balcony daily, Beechwood, Whinfell Forest, 9-12 Nov.

2, Bird Hide, Whinfell Forest, 9-Nov.

2, on 60 min walk around south-east corner, Whinfell Forest, 11-Nov.

19 (peak count), Bird Hide feeding station, Whinfell Forest, 11 Nov.

Brambling Fringilla montifringulla

1, calling, Beechwood, Whinfell Forest, 11 Nov.

1, calling, Bird Hide, Whinfell Forest, 11 Nov.

Goldfinch Carduelis carduelis

1, flew over calling, Cycle Hire, Whinfell Forest, 9-Nov.

Heard, Bird Hide, Whinfell Forest, 9-Nov.

13, heard on 60 min walk around south-east corner, Whinfell Forest, 11-Nov.

Heard, Bird Hide, Whinfell Forest, 11 Nov.

Siskin Carduelis spinus

10+, flew over calling, Beechwood, Whinfell Forest, 9-Nov.

Heard, Bird Hide, Whinfell Forest, 9-Nov.

13, heard on 60 min walk around south-east corner, Whinfell Forest, 11-Nov.

Heard, Bird Hide, Whinfell Forest, 11 Nov.

Lesser Redpoll Carduelis cabaret

3, on 60 min walk around south-east corner, Whinfell Forest, 11-Nov.

Crossbill Loxia curvirostra

2, flew over calling, Beechwood, Whinfell Forest, 9-Nov.

Bullfinch Pyrrhula pyrrhula

2, on 60 min walk around south-east corner, Whinfell Forest, 11-Nov.

Moths

The compact 20W Actinic Heath moth trap was placed on the lodge patio in Scots Pine woodland with a rich understorey. Run four nights. Rained most of the final night on 11-Nov.

Spruce Carpet Thera britannica

3, around light trap at 22:00, Beechwood, Whinfell Forest, 8-Nov.

8, in and around light trap in morning, Beechwood, Whinfell Forest, 9-Nov.

6, in and around light trap in morning, Beechwood, Whinfell Forest, 10-Nov.

3, in and around light trap in morning, Beechwood, Whinfell Forest, 10-Nov.

1, flew in and landed on Norway Spruce Christmas tree inside our lodge, Beechwood, Whinfell Forest, 12-Nov.